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David Cameron's ex-policy guru Steve Hilton criticised over policy remarks David Cameron's ex-policy guru Steve Hilton criticised over policy remarks
(about 5 hours later)
Steve Hilton, the prime minister's former policy guru, has been criticised in Whitehall after he suggested Downing Street often learns about government announcements through the media.Steve Hilton, the prime minister's former policy guru, has been criticised in Whitehall after he suggested Downing Street often learns about government announcements through the media.
One senior figure said Hilton had undermined the "central planning process" in Downing Street by failing to attend meetings where the "grid" of government announcements are drawn up. One senior figure said Hilton had undermined the "central planning process" in Downing Street by failing to attend meetings where the "grid" of government announcements is drawn up.
Hilton, who has taken a sabbatical in the US to be with his young family and wife Rachel Whetstone who is a senior Google executive, vented his frustration during a seminar at Stanford university. Hilton, who has taken a sabbatical in the US, vented his frustration during a seminar at Stanford university. In remarks reported in the Sunday Times, Hilton said: "Very often you'll wake up in the morning and hear on the radio or the news or see something in the newspapers about something the government is doing. And you think, well, hang on a second – it's not just that we didn't know it was happening, but we don't even agree with it! The government can be doing things … and we don't agree with it? How can that be?"
In remarks reported in the Sunday Times, Hilton said: "Very often you'll wake up in the morning and hear on the radio or the news or see something in the newspapers about something the government is doing. And you think, well, hang on a second – it's not just that we didn't know it was happening, but we don't even agree with it! The government can be doing things … and we don't agree with it? How can that be?"
Hilton, who complained how bureaucrats learn to master politicians, said he was amazed to find, when he entered Downing Street in 2010, that ministers can only control around 30% of government activity. He said that 40% of government business relates to implementing EU regulations and 30% relates to "random things … which were not anything to do with the coalition agreement".Hilton, who complained how bureaucrats learn to master politicians, said he was amazed to find, when he entered Downing Street in 2010, that ministers can only control around 30% of government activity. He said that 40% of government business relates to implementing EU regulations and 30% relates to "random things … which were not anything to do with the coalition agreement".
He added: "It just shows you the scale of what you're up against. When I found that out, that was pretty horrific." Hilton's remarks prompted Damian McBride, Gordon Brown's former political press secretary, to ask what Hilton had done with the Downing Street "grid". This was the document, perfected by New Labour in opposition, in which Downing Street collates all announcements to ensure the government has a coherent message.
Hilton's remarks prompted Damian McBride, Gordon Brown's former political press secretary, to ask what Hilton had done with the Downing Street "grid". This was the document, perfected by New Labour in opposition, in which Downing Street collates all forthcoming announcements across Whitehall to ensure the government has a coherent message. McBride blogged: "My question is – if what Steve Hilton told his students at Stanford is true – what on earth has happened to the No 10 grid system? It's clearly not working as it once did, as is occasionally obvious from the confusion over what's being announced and when."
McBride blogged: "My question is – if what Steve Hilton told his students at Stanford is true – what on earth has happened to the No 10 grid system? It's clearly not working as it once did, as is occasionally obvious from the confusion over what's being announced and when, the clashes between different good announcements, and the waste of other good announcements on days when bad news is sure to dominate."
One Whitehall source said: "When Hilton was at Downing Street he stopped coming to grid meetings, so that may be why he didn't know what was happening. He exemplified the point McBride's blog makes – an undermining of the central planning process by the people who should have led it."One Whitehall source said: "When Hilton was at Downing Street he stopped coming to grid meetings, so that may be why he didn't know what was happening. He exemplified the point McBride's blog makes – an undermining of the central planning process by the people who should have led it."
Hilton, who is often described as a revolutionary who will only be happy when most Whitehall departments have been dismantled, is famously hostile to the EU and believes the civil service see it as their duty to stymie reform.
However, the Tories acknowledge that one reason for their difficulties over ensuring the prime minister's writ runs across Whitehall was the decision to reduce the number of special advisers who can provide political advice.However, the Tories acknowledge that one reason for their difficulties over ensuring the prime minister's writ runs across Whitehall was the decision to reduce the number of special advisers who can provide political advice.
Steps are being taken to reverse this. But the No 10 policy unit is run by the civil service – on the advice of the cabinet secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood and with the agreement of the prime minister – which means political control is more difficult to enforce.Steps are being taken to reverse this. But the No 10 policy unit is run by the civil service – on the advice of the cabinet secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood and with the agreement of the prime minister – which means political control is more difficult to enforce.
A report by the Times suggests that ministers were becoming increasingly exasperated by what some regarded as an intransigent civil service.
"They think it's their job just to say 'No'," one Cabinet minister was quoted as saying. The former prime minister, Tony Blair, said he believed the civil service was "hopelessly bureaucratic" and no longer fit for purpose.
Lord Hennessy of Nympsfield, the constitutional historian and Whitehall chronicler, said: "It's as bad as I've ever known it. The 'governing marriage' between the civil service and the politicians is in real trouble."